Chapter II: Preface

The invasion of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies by Garibaldi with a force of but a thousand irregular troops is one of the most romantic episodes ever recorded in military history. In many respects it rivals the conquest of Mexico by Cortez. The latter won, not by the greater bravery of his troops, but by their immense superiority in weapons and defensive armour. Upon the contrary, Garibaldi's force were ill-armed and practically without artillery, and were opposed by an army of a hundred and twenty thousand men carrying the best weapons of the time, and possessing numerous and powerful artillery. In both cases the invaders were supported by a portion of the population who had been reduced to a state of servitude, and who joined them against their oppressors. There is another point of resemblance between these remarkable expeditions, inasmuch as the leaders of both were treated with the grossest ingratitude by the monarchs for whom they had gained such large acquisitions of territory. For the leading incidents in the campaign I have relied chiefly upon Garibaldi's Autobiography and the personal narrative of the campaign by Captain Forbes, R.N.

G. A. HENTY.

CONTENTS

CHAP. Page

I. AWAITING THE ATTACK 11

II. A DESPERATE DEFENCE 31

III. TROUBLES 50

IV. A SUDDEN SUMMONS 65

V. ON THE WAY 85

VI. THE VILLA SPINOLA 104

VII. THE EXPEDITION SAILS 125

VIII. PALERMO 143

IX. HARD FIGHTING 158

X. WITH BIXIO 178

XI. A HAZARDOUS EXPEDITION 197

XII. AN AMBUSCADE 216

XIII. ACROSS THE STRAITS 233

XIV. A DISCOVERY 252

XV. THE ADVANCE FROM REGGIO 272

XVI. NAPLES 292

XVII. THE BATTLE OF THE VOLTURNO 311

XVIII. CAPUA 330

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

"FRANK ENGAGED IN A TOUGH FIGHT WITH THE OFFICER WHO HELD THE FLAG" _Frontis._ 145

"WALKING UP AND DOWN THE ROOM LIKE A CAGED LION" 35

"HIS ASSAILANT FELL BACK AND DISAPPEARED" 91

"THE HINGES OF THE DOOR WERE BROKEN OFF" 161

"IN HER EXCITEMENT SHE FELL ON HER KNEES" 205

"'SILENCE, SIGNORS!' HE SAID IN A LOUD VOICE" 244

"IT WAS NOT UNTIL NULLO ORDERED FOUR MEN TO LOAD ... THAT HE WOULD ANSWER" 307

"HE WENT UP TO PERCIVAL AND PUT HIS HAND ON HIS SHOULDER" 337

MAP SHOWING POSITION OF THE OPPOSING FORCES ROUND CAPUA 313

PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF THE VOLTURNO 319

OUT WITH GARIBALDI.